Four Seasons, Sayan, Ubud, Bali - December 2015

When I first saw pictures of Four Seasons, Sayan, in a magazine while working in Qatar, I thought it was an artist's impression of a fantasy hotel.

It was, therefore, a dream come true to stay there and have a Veuve Clicquot party held in my honour on the Four Seasons Bali 'space ship' roof.

---

 A Low Key Welcome

There were a number of staff waiting to welcome me but the welcome was more low key, which fitted with the hillside sanctuary that is the Ubud Four Seasons.

You walk across the 'sky-bridge' causeway across lotus pounds and down to the bar/lounge area where Putu (from Guest Experience) was warm and friendly checking me in on a sofa and then Sean (the hotel manager) came for a welcome chat, as I looked out at the rolling gardens, rice padding fields and ruby coloured bougainvillea and pink frangipani trees. 

I had been given the Royal Villa again, this time three bedrooms. There was a welcome banner outside, which was a very nice touch.

I was surprise, and very pleased, to find my bags already unpacked in the villa and looked around the vast, and stylish, villa.  

Everything was impressive but the views of the Ayung River from the pool were unbelievable.

Veuve Clicquot had been left on ice and new clothes laid out for Issy.  The slippers for Issy, and the personalised mugs for all the Bali based Four Seasons members of the 'gang', blew me away.

Life Talk about Managing Stress

Then it was a Life Talk with former Buddhist nun Fera about Stress Management.  I had mislaid some of my credit cards on my way from Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay and so we had an active example to work with.  I immediately bonded with young vibrant Fera, with all her real world common sense, and the time went quickly.

Back at the villa my driver came to return the credit cards I left in the car.  Fera had been right that there was no point in stressing about them. 

Veuve Clicquot Party on the Roof

Next it was a Veuve Clicquot welcome party on the roof of the hotel.  Sean has a similar sense of humour to me and Chef Liam from Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay was there too. I had such a great time.

Then there was Balinese dancing but it was the same show, with different performers, I had seen at Jimbaran Bay. However, the musicians were much younger.

Dinner in the Ayung Terrace Restaurant 

For the starter at dinner I had Soto Ayam soup, very like my mother's brilliant Welsh chicken soups but with a boiled egg. Delicious.

For the main course I had a Rendang beef curry that Chef Gede reduced the spice in for me.  Rich and perfect with fried rice.

First Full Day

Sunrise Meditation 

The day started with 'sunrise' meditation with Fera in the Yoga Bale at 7:30am.

It was just me and her and we practise some of the techniques I had learnt before but then moving on to walking meditation.

Breakfast 

Back at the villa I got the Croque Madame for breakfast and dressed Issy in his latest Balinese outfit while I was waiting for this. I ate breakfast at the outside dining room table and then swam for a few hours.

Rejuvenating Facial 

This was meant to deal with my face and my chakra.  Desak did an excellent job and I was so relaxed after.

Manicure & Pedicure 

I was feeling so good I organised a manicure & pedicure, done  together, back at the Royal Villa.  Another first class job but left me with no time before my next session with Fera.

My Eat, Pray & Love Moment in Bali

​The next session with Fera was on Love & Compassion.  We discussed my friends & family and it was so positive that felt I had a form of epiphany. 

Fisherman's Night

Dinner that night was in the Riverside Café and their seafood focused buffet.  The prawns were almost too big but the Bali oysters as good as ever and I adored the BBQed lamb chops.  Chef Liam, and his family, were there and fun to chat with.

Back at the villa I opened the Veuve Clicquot and starting drinking it in the pool to cool off.

Second Full Day 

The day started with Egg Benedict with smoked salmon by the pool.  Then I looked at the plan for the morning and realised I had another breakfast at 9:30am.

'Jungle' Trekking 

​Young enthusiastic Lili started with "I love adventure" and I replied, "I am the opposite".  She took me on a gentle trek pointing out wild pineapples etc.  However, the sun & humidity meant this walk was far from easy. I was glad when we could rest at a temple.

We then walked through Sayan village and I loved how thrilled everyone was to see me.

Breakfast 

My second breakfast of the day was in the rice field bale (pavilion).  Chef Gede had made some mouthwatering noodles.  I ate these but left all the incredible looking fruit. 

Life of a Balinese Farmer 

Next it was rice planting with Head Gardener Wirawan.  I was offered boots but was told bare foot was better.  It was only after I got into the mud that I thought about my pedicure.

Wirawan is also a village priest and took the blessing of the rice field very seriously.  He is a fun and infectiously cheerful guy. Unlike at Four Seasons Chiang Mai, you wore your own clothes and mine got rather muddy. 

​Massage 

At the spa I was told my clothes would be laundered and my feet cleaned up, which they were.

Then Wayan gave me one of the most relaxing and perfect massages of my life.  There were no comments about my family, just an incredible technique and a caring lady.

Back at my villa my 'farming' clothes had been returned laundered and Issy was wearing his own exploring hat.  

Then heavy rain started and I loved watching this drinking the rest of the Veuve Clicquot.

Hatha Yoga 

The weather had cleared up by the time I had my yoga session.  This one focused on awareness and alignment and the blur between meditation and yoga became even more obvious.

Second/Last Dinner at the Ayung Terrace Restaurant

I started the evening working on www.sifrew.com in the bar area drinking perfect Grey Goose martinis.  However, in the restaurant the WiFi was not reliable.

I could not decide between seafood soup or satay.  Chef Gede came to the rescue saying he would serve me a small about of both.  All the food was incredible.

Then I had grilled pork ribs with chilli, garlic and coriander sauce.  These were excellent but the fried rice was even better.

I got a bottle of Balinese wine delivered to the villa and ended my last night cooling off in the pool drinking this.

Last Day Again

This started with a ham, cheese and mushroom omelette, reading the New York Times and the Weekend Financial Times.

Garden Tour

Then it was a garden tour with Head Gardener Wirawan.

I loved wandering around the lush gardens with him as he picked things for me to smell and we both giggled about various things.  A perfect last activity.

I then swam one last time before packing.

A Goodbye Like No Other

I checked out, being given a Four Seasons fan, thinking there was going to be little fuss until I got upstairs and found banners and most of the staff.

Sean gave me an 'equestrian' outfit for Issy to wear at lunch at Four Seasons Hampshire on Wednesday 23 December 2015. Then there was a huge send off from all the staff. It was another hotel I felt very sad to leave. 

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻 (6 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - Chef Gede, Wirawan, Lili & Putu; the massage from Wayan; giving me the Royal Villa; the mouthwatering food; the hat, and Hampshire outfit, for Issy; the Veuve Clicquot party on the roof; and Sean's incredible friendship meant this Four Seasons hotel broke the ‘teddy score' again.  My tips: you must try the Bali oysters, speak to Chef Gede, have a massage from Wayan and meet Head Gardener Wirawan. 












​

Loved the welcome banned for Issy & me.

The welcome gifts left for us included Veuve Clicquot, clothes, and slippers, laid out for Issy and a new member of the 'gang'. I have since decided to name her Lili.

Personalised mugs had been left for all the Four Seasons members of the 'gang' in Bali.

The stunning three bedroom Royal Villa where I stayed.

The outside dining area at the Royal Villa, note the boulder inset into the table at the far end. There was also a dining room inside the villa.

The Dharma Shanti Yoga Bale (designed to look like a locus petal) where I spent so many hours over the three days talking, meditating, practicing my breathing and undertaking Hatha Yoga.

Every few hours more goodies were delivered to the Royal Villa.

This Rendang beef curry was rich and delicious and Chef Gede toned down the spice for me perfectly.

What a view from the outside shower to start your day with.

Me at sunrise meditation, Fera was taking the photo.

The Sacred River Spa, near the Royal Villa and away from the main building.

The sea buckthorn, jasmine, orange blossom, lavender & honey etc using in my Rejuvenating Facial.

My manicure and pedicure by the Royal Villa pool.

I could never get over the setting for the private pool at the villa, with its magical view of the Ayung River.

I could not pass a bath like this without filling it and lighting the joss sticks.

I still do not believe these huge crustaceans are prawns but, if you can eat as many of these incredible Bali oysters as you want, who cares.

The breathtaking view of the canyon from the roof terrace of the Royal Villa.

Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon by the pool, a dream breakfast.

The spa at the main hotel, what a visionary building John Heah designed in 1998.

Si Frew the intrepid jungle explorer takes a break, Lilli took this photo.

Si Frew the rice framer with (stricter than Four Seasons Chiang Mai) Head Gardener (and village Priest) Wirawan.

The oils used for one of the best massages of my life.

I got back to the Royal Villa to find my 'farming' clothes already laundered and Wirawan had made Issy a hat. Four Seasons perfection.

Another bed specially constructed for Issy.

In the Ayung Terrace restaurant that night I could not decide between soup or satay, so Chef Gede made me a small amount of both. Part of why I love Four Seasons so much.

I started my last day with an omelette breakfast overlook the lush canyon and Ayung River, nothing bad could happen in a place like this.

I spent my last morning with brilliantly enthusiast Head Gardener Wirawan again, as he showed me his incredible gardens.

What a perfect location to work on www.sifrew.com.

A goodbye like no other.